Argentina seeks to include Mexico in ALAS open skies agreement

Argentina is seeking to integrate Mexico into the South American Air Liberalization Agreement (ALAS) to expand regional aviation connectivity. Óscar Villabona, administrator of Argentina's National Civil Aviation Administration (ANAC), stated that efforts will focus on increasing flight frequencies between Argentina and Mexico, with formal discussions expected to begin within two months.

ALAS, a “open skies” policy, currently includes six South American nations. It was initially formed by Argentina, Brazil, Chile, and Paraguay in July 2026, with Uruguay and Bolivia joining shortly after. The agreement aims to move away from individual national actions toward a multilateral block to improve integration and benefits for countries with fewer flight frequencies.

Industry leaders, including Rafael Echevarne of the Airports Council International (ACI) Latin America, advocate for a “Single Sky” model across the region. This deregulation would allow airlines to operate more freely regarding routes, tariffs, and capacity. Under high-level liberalization, foreign carriers could potentially engage in cabotage, such as a Mexican airline operating domestic routes within Colombia or Chile.